Just catching up here!
Acorn: That mix-up was partly my fault. When I phoned Dave to ask about a floor spot, he did mention that John Connolly was on, but I'd forgotten. So when he met me and asked "are you John?", I, naturally, said "yes"... There are worse people I could be mistaken for. I hadn't seen John Connolly before, but enjoyed his performance - very entertaining, and a nice bloke too. Dave has been in touch since, to book me for 2010. I'm in the area before that though; at the Pack Horse in Loughborough on 21st November this year.
Will: I don't think I've heard the collapsible armonium I play described as a 'preacher's harmonium', but they were - maybe still are - used by the Army for field services, and on ships; some people call them 'ship's organs'. And I think the Salvation Army used them for street hymn-singing. Somebody told me they were used by travelling medicine shows. And now folksingers... The hand-pumped Indian harmonium is said to have been developed from instruments introduced by missionaries, but I think that may have been the harmoniflute, otherwise known as a lap-organ.
As Al says, I will be on the road soon, living in a tent. I will be travelling all over mainland Britain for the next year or so, doing promotional floor spots at as many clubs as I can, so there'll be no escape! I'll be posting plans and news here. I should be around North Yorkshire next month, and Midlands in November.
See Yiz. JK